Ritz-Carlton is eponymous with luxury, five star accomodations and a hefty price tag! Now, however, a new adjective can be added to that list, philanthropic.

One of the winners of Conde Nast’s World Savers Awards, the Ritz-Carlton is not only reducing it’s carbon footprint by reducing it’s hotels energy and water comsumption, but also adopts schools in the neighboring resort areas helping kids stay in school through their Suceed Through Service program.

You can now travel guilt-free to one of their 79 properties across 25 countries while helping the less fortunate with one of the Ritz-Carlton’s Give Back Getaways during which you stay in luxurious accomodations but spend half your day helping others, whether it’s people or animals, alongside Ritz-Carlton staff that are making a difference, too!

Today is my birthday!!! But I am not going to receive a bunch of gifts or even go out and buy myself a little present. Instead I am going to GIVE a gift to those less fortunate than I. Soles4Souls is an organization that collects gently worn shoes and delivers them to children in need. According to their website, “Last year alone, Americans discarded more than 300 million pairs of shoes. When these shoes break down in our landfills, the toxic glue that holds the shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere.” Look for colllection boxes in your area or mail them to Soles4Souls! You could organize a shoe drive through your school, organization, church group or sports team. If you would rather make a monetary donation, a mere $7 per month will allow 7 children to have a pair of shoes. If you commit to a minimum of 3 months, they will send you a super swag tee that you can wear with pride knowing you helped others while looking and keeping cool! I know that my monthly gift will help keep the planet and the children on it a bit safer…and that is truly a gift that keep on giving. Happy Birthday to me:)